I wanted to thank you all for your wonderful reviews and for taking the time to read this so far. Thank you to my wonderful beta for getting this back to me so quickly. Unfortunately this is my last update till after the 10th July as I have to go away on business for almost a week and won't have the time to write and limited access to the internet. I hope no one is too annoyed that I left it at such a big cliff-hanger but I have the next chapter in mind and I promise it will be worth the wait. So please feed my muse and review.

Chapter 10

Need to want you.

Merle made his way through the prison the next day. He was on a mission to find Beth and Carol and apologise for his outburst the day before. He had talked to Daryl about Carol and at first Daryl had been reluctant to talk about it but then finally admitted that he did care about Carol a lot and the thought of her being with someone else was tearing him up inside.

And while Daryl was hesitant, Merle had convinced him that being totally up front with her was the best approach, Daryl had sworn to talk to her but Merle knew he hadn't yet. Merle found them in the dining area tidying up after everyone from breakfast. Taking a deep breath, he moved over to Carol and Beth.

"Ladies," he spoke, his voice shaky but sure.

"Something we can do for you Merle?" Beth asked as the two women turned the face him. Beth was looking dead at him unafraid and unflinching, arms crossed over her chest showing him she was still annoyed at him. Carol on the other hand couldn't even look at him and opted for looking at the floor leaving him feeling like shit.

"I came to apologise about my outburst yesterday, I was out of line and you have no idea how sorry I am."

"I knew you had it in you," Beth smiled referring to his apology but Carol still couldn't bring herself to look at him, sighing he placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head so she was looking at him.

"Carol you're not a slut or a bad person or anything like that I just let my mouth get away from me is all… my mum died when I was a teenager and after that our old man was devastated and it was like a piece of him died with her, he loved her so much. They were childhood sweethearts," he explained a deep sadness in his voice. "He started to change, drinking and hitting us I became hard and I guess I changed too… I struggle every day to control that anger and yesterday I lost and I'm really sorry I took it out on you. I worry about Daryl; I see how much he cares for you and how seeing you with Tyrese is hurting him and I just wanted to protect him."

"I understand that you want to protect your brother but there isn't anything other than friendship between Tyrese and I," Carol spoke softly finally meeting his eyes.

"Maybe you should tell him that because he has other ideas," Merle muttered.

"I will," she replied strongly and he couldn't help but smile. "And as for Daryl caring about me, he's just over protective," she sighed.

"You're wrong," he whispered before turning to face Beth. "Beth I would also like to apologise to you, you were trying to protect your friend and I shouldn't have yelled at you or called you a bitch which you're not." Hershel stood close by listening, he knew what had happened last night and when he saw Merle heading towards his little girl he wanted to make sure nothing bad happened but he had to say he was both surprised and glad to hear the man apologise.

"Apology accepted," she smiled and he couldn't help but smile back. Beth had a smile that could light up a whole room and he was hoping she wouldn't say no to his next request.

"Well I'd like to make it up to you all the same, Maggie tells me you love picking berries and there just so happens to be a berry bush just beyond the wall, I thought maybe we could go out and dig it up and bring it back here to put in the garden."

"I'd like that," she smiled but Hershel quickly stepped forward.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Merle looked up at the older man and saw the concern on his face.

"I'll keep her safe sir and we wouldn't be gone more than five minutes," Merle tried to reassure him but it quickly became clear that it wasn't her safety that was worrying him.

"I have no doubt that you could keep my Beth safe if travellers or walkers happened upon you but that is not what concerns me," Hershel made clear. "She is just a child." Merle frowned realising that Hershel Greene didn't want his daughter mixed up with him.

"Daddy I'm not a child," Beth protested. "I turn seventeen in two weeks."

"Mr. Dixon, a word in private if I could." Merle nodded moving across the room and taking a deep breath he looked at the older man. "My Beth is still a child no matter what she may think and to be quiet honest you're not the type of man I had hoped for her."

"With all due respect sir, Beth isn't a child, she is a young lady and I know I'm not perfect or even good enough for your daughter, I have made more than a few mistakes in the past fighting, drinking, doing drugs and even spent time in prison but I fight every day to be a better person and to do right," he tried to explain, to make Hershel understand. "Beth is strong and smart but she is also kind and sweet and she makes me want to do better, to be better… more." Hershel sighed nodding, hoping he wasn't making a terrible mistake.

"I give you my permission to take Beth to get the berry bush but you're to be in sight of the prison at all times and to be no longer then ten minutes." Merle nodded smiling.

"Of course sir and I ask that maybe if you're comfortable with it that I can call on your daughter again maybe to join me at dinner time or to take a walk some nights?" Hershel respected the fact that Merle had the decency to at least ask him, not many men would bother too, hell not even Glenn had asked his permission before starting up with Maggie.

"You may but I have conditions… I'm to know where you will be and it's never to be behind closed doors, she may be becoming a young lady but she is still my little girl and you will show her the respect she is due… no funny business until she is either twenty one or your wife." Swallowing hard, Merle nodded deciding his terms were more than fair and if things went like he hoped he knew one day Beth would be his wife.

"Yes sir." Hershel reached out taking his hand and shaking it. Merle turned to smile at Beth nodding his head and couldn't help but laugh softly as she squealed jumping up and down hugging Carol. That was also when he noticed two other things… one, Tyrese was now standing beside Carol and two, Daryl stood in the dining room door way with his fist clenched at his side. "Uh oh," he muttered.

"What's wrong?" Hershel asked looking at where Merle was staring and seeing Daryl, "Ah."

"I better go talk to him."

"Wait," the older man stopped him grasping his arm and Merle looked at him. "Let's see what he'll do." Merle sighed looking back at his little brother hoping this played out alright.

Daryl watched as Tyrese placed a hand on Carol's arm. She was laughing at Beth who was bouncing and going on about something she was clearly excited about. Daryl was about to turn away and storm out when he saw Tyrese lean in and whisper something in Carol's ear. That was it, he had had enough, fist clenched at his side, he stormed over to them stopping in front of Carol.

"Why don't you take your god damn hands off her," he spat at Tyrese who looked at him amused.

"There a problem Daryl?" he asked. Daryl could hear the amusement in his tone and tried not to let it get to him as he glared at the other man.

"Daryl." He turned looking at her as he heard her soft voice whisper his name, locking eyes with her he instantly felt calmer. "We were just talking."

"He had his hands all over you, he always bloody does."

"Daryl…" she went to speak but was cut off by Tyrese.

"Maybe she likes my hands on her, ever thought of that?"

"You piece of shit!" Daryl hissed moving to hit him that was when Merle and Hershel leaped into action grasping him under the arms and pulling him back. After a few moments of thrashing he jerked free. "I don't need this shit!" he spat turning to storm away but Carol grabbed his arm forcing him to face her.

"Daryl talk to me please," her voice begged him as did her eyes. "My uncle always said to me Carol you'll never get what you want unless you ask for it… what do you want Daryl?"

"You," he replied breathily before he could even stop himself. "Just you." Carol felt like her world was spinning and all she wanted to do was step forward and kiss him but before she could even take one step, Tyrese's mocking laugh cut her off.

"You're too late brother, she's taken," he smirked laying his arm over Carol's shoulder, to say she was stunned was an understatement but before she could do anything Daryl's face screwed up in anger and he stormed out. Carol felt annoyance and anger flood her whole being and she couldn't stop herself from pushing Tyrese's arm off her shoulder and spinning to face him.

"How dare you!" she hissed. "We are not together, we never were and we never will be," she saw the hurt flitter across his face and couldn't help but feel bad. Sighing she took a deep breath before continuing.

"You're a nice guy Tyrese but I gave my heart to Daryl a long time ago, I should have made that clear but I just thought you were looking for a friend… I'm sorry," she whispered before turning and going after Daryl. Merle couldn't help but smile, his little brother would be alright; he got the girl.

Carol found him fast enough, in his room that he shared with Merle. He was slamming things around as he got ready to go hunting it looked like. Moving into the room she shut and locked the door behind her wanting them to have some privacy. He spun to face her when he heard the door click close.

"What do you want?" he snarled at her but she decided not to be angry. He was upset and thought he had lost her, if the rolls were reversed she would probably be acting the same way.

"You," she whispered throwing his words back at him. "Just you," she spoke louder, he looked up at her shocked.

"But Tyrese…" he started but she quickly cut him off moving across the room where he stood.

"Tyrese made an assumption and he was wrong… I only wanted to be his friend but it turns out he wanted something more, something I couldn't give him because my heart belongs to you," she confessed openly trying not to be afraid and to not let her insecurities get the better of her.

Daryl couldn't think, he couldn't breathe all he knew was that the woman he loved, the women he had been pining for, for months was standing before him giving herself to him because she felt the same for him.

He felt warmth and heat overtake him, the undeniable urge to take her then and there. He needed her, wanted her and had to have her and before he could stop himself he had dropped his bow from his grasp and stepped forward smashing his lips down onto hers.